bill gates is reportedly the largest owner of farm land in the country and buying more as fast as he can but in north dakota he has encountered resistance;

Trust 'linked to Bill Gates' is asked by North Dakota AG to explain how it got 2,000 acres of land worth $13.5M near Canadian border when state law puts limits on who can own ranches;

A trust allegedly tied to Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has been asked to justify a recent purchase of farmland in North Dakota that has made residents 'livid.'

Red River Trust reportedly acquired six parcels of land near the borders of Minnesota and Canada in November that officials say may violate state corporate farming laws.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley issued a letter to the trust Tuesday asking officials to confirm plans for use of the land and whether the company meets any of the exceptions to the state's laws.

If Red River Trust did violate state laws, the company will be forced to divest itself from the land and could be fined up to $100,000.

Gates is considered the largest private owner of farmland in America after having quietly amassed approximately 270,000 acres of land across dozens of states, The Associated Press reported last year. 

However, the billionaire's properties make up only a small portion of the nearly 900 million total farm acres in the U.S......more.......